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A Miami Times reporter (McConaughey) travels to southern Florida to investigate the innocence of a man on death row (Cusack).

IS IT A GOOD MOVIE?

In 1960s Florida, where the bugs are louder than the trucks, a man named Hillary Van Wetter (John Cusack) sits on death row for the murder of a bigoted sheriff. Miami Times reporter Ward Jansen (Matthew McConaughey) returns to his hometown of Lately to research the case. Ward doesnít think Hillary is guilty, suspects he was framed.

He launches an investigation with his younger brother, Jack (Zac Efron), who has a lot of spare time and takes a job delivering for the local paper. They soon bump into flirty blonde Charlotte Bless (Nicole Kidman, who earned Golden Globe and SAG nominations), who has a pen pal romance with Hillary and wants him set free.

Thatís when The Paperboy starts to reveal itself for what it really is. The movie has the elements of both the journalistic drama and the murder mystery that its synopsis suggests to help guide it to its finish, but The Paperboy is also very proud and completely comfortable being, overall, a sweaty, sleazy production.

The Paperboy, based on Pete Dexterís 1995 novel, will make some viewers uncomfortable. With that, it might earn Lee Daniels a level of respect that people (like myself) didnít give his previous effort, the Oscar-winning Precious (2009). Whatís best about the movie is that it shows a number of established, pretty faces doing despicable things and/or playing against type, reputation and paychecks be damned.

Thereís Cusack getting himself off in a prison. Thereís McConaughey with a shirt on. And there, of course, is Nicole Kidman urinating on the boy from High School Musical.

THE EXTRAS

Featurette (6:13): Director Lee Daniels and some of his cast (including Matthew McConaughey, Nicole Kidman and John Cusack) sit down to discuss the making of The Paperboy. Also included are clips.

Director Interview (4:07): Daniels shares his thoughts on the novel, the characters and the cast.

Behind the Scenes (7:03) includes footage from the set of The Paperboy.

FINAL DIAGNOSIS

Lee Danielsí follow-up to the Oscar-winning Precious is a bold film, daring to show John Cusack masturbating in prison, Nicole Kidman peeing on Zac Efron and Matthew McConaughey with a shirt on. Special features include two featurettes and several interviews.